Two-color-printing press.



PATENTED JULY 16, 1907; W. K. HODGMAN & B. HALL; TWO 001.011 PRINTING PRESS.

APPLIOATIOH IILBD APBL' 24. 1906.

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No; 860,134.. PATENTED JULY 16, 1-907. w. K. HODGMAN & HALL.

TWO COLOR PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION rum) APB. 24.1906.

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PATENTED JULY 16, 1907. W. K. HODGMAN & B. HALL. TWO GOLORPRIN TING PRESS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 2&- 1906.

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PATENTED JULY'lG, 1907.

W K HODGMAN & B HALL TWO COLOR PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION rum) APR. 24. 1005.

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No. 860,134. PATENTED JULY 16,1907. w. HODGMAN & B. HALL.

TWO COLOR PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 24|1905.

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WILLIS K. HODGMAN AND BIOKNELL HALL, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO HUBER-HODGMAN PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TWO-GOLdR-PRINTING PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1907.

Application filed April 24, 1905. Serial No. 257,043-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIS K. HODGMAN and BICK- NELL HALL, both citizens of the United States, residing at Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Two- Oolor-Printing Presses, of which the following description, in connection with the'accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Our invention relates to what are known in the trade as two-color printing presses, notwithstanding such presses may and frequently are constructed to print with more than two colors and would therefore be more properly designated as multi-color presses.

Our invention is particularly adapted for presses that employ one or more transfer cylinders located between adjacent impression cylinders for transferring the printed sheets from one to another of the impression cylinders and provides means for mounting such transfer cylinder or cylinders in fixed bearings with provision for raising and lowering the adjacent impression cylinders relative to the same.

Our invention also presents novel means for maintaining proper register between the several cylinders,

also between said .cylinders and the cooperating form carrier, usually a reciprocating bed.

The above, with other aims and features of our invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure l in side elevation shows a sufiicient portion of a printing press illustrative of our invention to enable the same to be understood; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the irregular dotted line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical plan view looking at the ends ofthe impression and transfer cylinders within the side frame, said view showing the .bed and the starting or registering racks, as viewed from along the dotted line 3--3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail on the dotted line 44, Fig. 3; and Figs. 5, 6 and 7, views corresponding to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, but showing a modified arrangement of cylinders and connecting mechanism. Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the means for vertically moving the impression cylinders, said cylinders being shown as lowered. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a slide of one of the impression cylinders. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the impression cylinders raised.

In the particular embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and more particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the two impression cylinders are shown at A, B, they being provided with usual end journals a, I), mounted in suitable bearings in the upper .tion S.

ends of the vertically movable slides or supports S, S. These slides are arranged in slide-ways in the frame F, and provided with any suitable means for raising and lowering the same and the cylinders carried thereby as is necessary to raise the cylinders from and clear them of the forms 0, G, upon the form carrier, herein shown as a reciprocating bed 0, mounted upon usual roller bearings c. I

It is not new in itself to raise and lower a printing or impression cylinder to clear it of the form upon the reciprocating bed during the return stroke of the latter. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, is shown one form of mechanism for raising and lowering the printing or impression cylinders. The slides or supports S are guided for vertical movement upon the frame by the pin and slot connec- Said slides at their lower ends are mounted upon the eccentric portions of shafts S which are connected by cranks S to links 8, pinned to cranks S upon a shaft S,- whereon is mounted the large gear S adapted to have a movement of rotation imparted thereto by the pinion S to which power is applied in any suitable manner. Upon said shaft S is also mounted a cam S, with the cam track of which engages a lug projecting from one side of a lever S pivoted upon the machine frame at S and having pivoted to the upper end thereof a link S having a shoulder S near the outer end thereof, adapted to engage one of the cranks S as shown. The gear S will, when given a movement of rotation, similarly actuate the cam S thereby oscillating the lever S and through the link S oscillating the crank S engaged by the said' shoulder. Since the two cranks S are, through the links S and cranks S connected for simultaneous movement, the described oscillation of lever S will raise or lower the printing or impression cylinders as required. The shoulder S of the link S may be manually raised, from engagement with crank S to thereby disconnect said raising and lowering mechanism.

Between the printing or impression cylinders A, B is the transfer cylinder T, the same having its end journals mounted in suitable fixed bearings in the frame F, so that said transfer cylinder so far as the operation of the press is concerned, and disregarding any posssible means for permanent adjustment that may be provided, remains always ,operatively fixed, while the adjacent impression cylinders are raised and lowered at every reciprocation of the bed 0.

The impression cylinder journals (1, b are extended beyond their bearings and are provided with the driving gears a, I) made fast upon their respective journals and geared to opposite sides of the intermediate gear t that is fast upon the extended journal t of the transfer cylinder. The intermediate gear t meshes with the gears a b above the centers of rotation thereof when the printing cylinders are in their lowered position.- One of the impression cylinder journals, herein the journal marked a, is further extended to receive fast upon its end, a driving gear a which is driven in any suitable manner as by a driving whee] a Fig. 1, suitably journaled in the frame. Positiverotation of the impression cylinder A is by the mechanism described. transmitted first to the intermediate or transfer cylinder T, rotating the latter in a direction opposite to that of the impression cylinder A and, in turn, transmitted from the transfer cylinder T to the second impression cylinder-B to rotate the latter in the same direction as the impression cylinder A. The arrangement of the transmitting gears is such that the slight raising and lowering of the impression cylinders relative to the transfer cylinder does not interfere with the effective and suflicient transmission of power from one to the other.

In juxtaposition to one of the impression cylinders, herein the cylinder A, is the usual feed board H to receive the pile of sheets to be printed upon and the several cylinders A, B and T are provided respectively with usual gripper mechanisms indicated at g, y and 9 Fig. 3, for seizing the sheets fed from the board, carrying them singly, first around the impression cylinder A, and delivering them to the transfer cylinder, which, in turn, delivers the same to the second impression cylinder B, the latter, in turn, placing them upon the fly h, Fig. 1.

Where the several cylinders are driven in series, as above described, it is important that there may be no back-lash. or looseness in or between the driving connections. We have therefore made a sufficient number of the connected gears, herein the impression cylinder gears a as split gears, which furnish means for adjusting the parts one relative to another for the purpose of taking up any wear or back-lash that may show itself. These split gears are best shown in Fig. 2 wherein the split or separated gear portions are shown at a said portions being ring-like in form and made rotatively adjustable with respect to the main portions of their respective gears. The ring portions and said main portions are provided, the one with slots 11 and the other with clamping bolts a constituting one form of adjusting means by which the ring portions of the gears may be set around to cause their teeth to be offset more or less from the teeth upon the main portions of their respective gears, thereby to increase or reduce the effective width of the teeth of the gears, as may be necessary to maintain a proper transmission of power without detrimental back-lash or looseness. By this means we are able to make certain of accurate timing of the printing or impression cylinders relative to each other and, the timing of the first gear of the series having been properly effected relative to the reciprocating bed, it is certain that all the other printing cylinders, whatever be their number, will likewise be and remain in proper register with their respective portions of the reciprocating bed. The timing of the rotative movements of the respective cylinders is also thus insured, not only as to the impression cylinders themselves and their cooperation with the bed, but also with respect to the intervening transfer cylinders.

To produce proper register of the initial cylinder of the series with its form upon the bed, we have provided said cylinder, herein marked A, with a usual segmental gear a that meshes with a cooperating rack 0 upon thebed.

Heretofore it has been common in two-cylinder presses of this type wherein the impression cylinders each make two revolutions for every reciprocation of the bed, to raise and lower the entire series of cylinders, both impression and transfer cylinders. It will be obvious, therefore, that the construction here disclosed, which provides for lifting only the impression cylinders, which alone need to be lifted, leaving the transfer cylinders in fixed bearings, is mechanically superior in every way not only as to lightness, facility and first cost but because more accurate work and durability, result. Particularly is this true when combined with means such as that here shown, for eliminating looseness in the transmission of power from one to another of the gears in the series.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 we have shown the power applied to the intermediate or transfer cylinder. In this arrangement the transfer cylinder gear t that meshes with the adjacent impression cylinder gears, also meshes with and is driven from below by a small driving gear t that is mounted upon a separate shaft 25 carrying the larger driving gear t suitably driven from the main shaft of the press. In this case the registering racks for insuring accuracy of register at the beginning of a printing stroke, are arranged upon this additional gear t and the bed, the segmental rack or gear being shown at t and the bed rack at t. This arrangement eliminates any shifting of position in the train of gearing that imparts rotation to the cylinders, rendering necessary only the shifting of position, between the gears upon the cylinders themselves due to the raising and lowering of the impression cylinder gears relative to the intermediate or transfer cylinder gear or gears. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, there is not only this slight movement between the gears of the cylinder series, but there is also a slight movement between the stationary driving gear a and the first cylinder gear (1 While this last mentioned motion is not in practice detrimental, nevertheless the construction in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, eliminates even this slight error.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, a series of cylinders may be extended as desired to include additional transfer and impression cylinders, as will be well understood by those cognizant with the art.

Our invention is not restricted to the particular form or embodiment thereof herein illustrated, but may be varied, as suggested or required, within the spirit and scope of the invention itself.

l. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary hearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, driving gearing to engage and drive one of said cylinders, and registering means between the form carrier and that cylinder only of the series to which power is applied from the said drivinggearing.

2. A printing press of the character described compris ing; a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, gearing connectingsaid cylinders, driving gearing to engage and drive one of said cylinders, registering means between the form carrier and that cylinder only of the series to which power is applied from the said driving gearing, and means accurately to time the remaining cylinders with that having registering means provided therefor.

3. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a pluralityof impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to the said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, driving gearing to directly engage and drive one of said cylinders, and registering means between the form carrier and that cylinder only of the series to which power is applied from the said driving gearin 4. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to the said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, a driving gear, a gear in mesh therewith and operatively connected to one of the said cylinders and having a second gear co-axial therewith, and registering devices between the form carrier and said second co-axial gear.-

5. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, a driving gear in direct meshing engagement with a gear upon the shaft of one of said cylinders, and registering means betweenthe form carrier and that cylinder a gear whereon is in engagement with the driving gear.

6. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted instationary bearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, a driving gear, a gear in meshwith said driving gear and operatively connected to one of the said cylinders and having a second gear co-axial therewith, and registering devices between the form carrier and said co-axial gear.

7 A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, a driving gear, a gear in mesh therewith and operatively connected to one of the said cylinders and having a second gear co-axial therewith, registering devices between the form carrier and said co-axial gear, and means to accurately time the "gears of the remaining cylinders with that through which power is applied to the series.

8. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, means to raise'and lower said impression cylinders relative to said form carrier and thereby to impart a slight relative rotative movement between the said cylinders, registering means between the form carrier and one only of said cylinders, and means accurately to time the remaining cylinders with said registering cylinder.

9. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, gearing connecting said cylinders, regis tering means between the form carrier and one only of said gears, and means, acting during the raising of said impression cylinders, to prevent rolling of that cylinder that is provided with said registering means, whereby said cylinder is maintained in register.

10. A printing press of the character described comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, gearing connecting said cylinders, driving gearing to engage and drive one of said cylinders, and registering means between the form carrier and that cylinder only of the series to which power is applied from the said driving gearing,

11. A twocolor printing press comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, a transfer cylinder, each of said impression cylinders carrying a split gear the members whereof may be circumferentially adjusted relative to each other, thereby to eliminate lost motion between said impression cylinder gears and a gear aneshing with each of said split gears.

12. A twocolor printing press comprising a form car rier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder, each of said impression cylinders carrying a split gear the members whereof may be circumferentially adjusted relative to each other, thereby to eliminate lost motion between said impression cylinder gears and a driving gear meshing with each of said split gears.

' 113'. A two-color printing press comprising a form carrier, a plurality of impression cylinders, means to raise and lower the same relative to said form carrier, an intermediate transfer cylinder, each of said impression cylinders carrying a split gear comprising twogear rings secured to each other but capable of relative circumferential adjustment, thereby to eliminate lost motion between said impression cylinder gears and a driving gear meshing with each of said'spilt gears.

14. A printing press of the character described comprising a plurality of impression cylinders each having a split gear the members whereof may be circumferentially adjusted relative to each other to eliminate lost motion, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings .and a driving gear meshing with each of said split gears upon said impression cylinders.

15. A two-color printing press comprising a plurality of impression cylinders, each carrying a split gear comprising two gear rings secured to'each other but capable of relative circumferential adjustment, thereby to eliminate lost motion between said impression cylinder gears, an intermediate transfer cylinder mounted in stationary bearings, and an intermediate driving gear meshing with each of said split gears upon said impression cylinders.

16. A two-color printing press comprising a plurality of impression cylinders each carrying a split gear comprising two gear rings secured to each other but capable of relative circumferential adjustment, thereby to eliminate lost motion between said impression cylinder gears, an intermediate transfer cylinder gear mounted in stationary bearings and meshing with said impression cylinder gears, and a driving gear in engagement with the gear of the trans fer cylinder, thereby to impart rotative movement to said impression cylinders.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIS K. HODGMAN. BICKNELL HALL. Witnesses FRnnK. M. A'rwooo, NOBLE W. ASHLEY. 

